Cranking Up The Numbers: Rainwater Harvesting
One of the perks that come with a metal roof is that it presents the perfect platform for harvesting rainwater. In order to make the most out of this platform, the harvesting system should be installed as soon as the roof has been installed on the new house.
A complete rainwater harvesting system will cost you a tidy sum. Your return on investment is that the water utility bills won't be quite as high and the system will have paid for itself in the long term. Below a break-down of the costs you should expect to incur.
The Right Roof
The price of metal roofing panels varies from one manufacturer to the other. Regardless of the brand, the best metal roofing system for harvesting rain is one that uses concealed fasteners rather than exposed fasteners. For one, exposed fasteners are likely to trap droplets of water when it pours.
This is water that should be flowing into the gutters before it drains into the storage tank. Regular exposure of fasteners to rainwater increases their vulnerability to corrosion, which threatens the structural integrity and the aesthetic appeal of the roof.
Metal roofing panels are sold by the square metre. For example, the infamous colorbond roofing panels will cost you approximately $21.50 per square metre. There's no additional cost of installation because it's factored into the home builder's labour charge.
The Gutters
A metal roofing system is compatible with gutters made of different materials. Metal gutters have been the popular choice for new homes for a long time. However, gutters made of PVC are increasingly gaining preference because they're more affordable and for the fact that they're immune to corrosion and rust. This is a relatively common problem with metal gutters.
A metre of PVC guttering will set you back at least $30.
The Rainwater Tank
Plastic tanks are also gaining preference over metal tanks. A common problem associated with metal tanks is that their walls can chip and flake, thereby depositing small flakes of the metal in harvested rain water.
Secondly, plastic tanks are less vulnerable to leakages thanks to their seamless construction. Metallic tanks are welded together and the weld joints are considered a weak point.
On the higher side, a plastic tank should cost about $2000. A rainwater harvesting system would be considered complete even if you don't install a pump.
If you intend to build a house that's 50 square metres, the complete rainwater harvesting system should cost you something in the range of $4,575.